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‘Star Wars' Trailer Hits World Series Home Run

Luke Skywalker's between-innings return to the Millennium Falcon and baseball thrills packed a powerful force.

The Houston Astros made history Wednesday with the franchise's first World Series victory, capping a seven-game thriller with the Los Angeles Dodgers.

But the history and thrills weren't limited to the big game: Wednesday also will be remembered as the night Dodger legends Don Newcombe and Sandy Koufax returned to the field to toss the first pitches as Luke Skywalker returned to the Millennium Falcon in the fourth inning.

On first blush, the unexpected broadcast of the latest teaser for "Star Wars: Episode VIII – The Last Jedi" wouldn't seem to fit with baseball's biggest night. Fans and fanboys, after all, ostensibly occupy different universes.

But they're not so far, far away.

Both baseball and "Star Wars" thrive on nostalgia, but need to be wary of wallowing in it. Both pack the power of intergenerational allure, even if not all kids can make it through marathon night games.

Both pastimes offer the promise of new seasons to come – especially now that Disney appears bent on turning out annual "Star Wars" spin-offs for eternity.

The Mouse House has done well so far, with 2015's "Star Wars: Episode VII – The Force Awakens" and "Rogue One: A Star Wars Story." Those extensions of George Lucas' masterwork and pulse-pounding peeks like the World Series-timed teaser starring Mark Hamill raise expectations for the latest flick's Dec. 15 release.

Disney couldn’t have scripted Wednesday's 45-second surprise better: The trailer landed during an epic battle between a team whose city and name evoke the Space Race and a club whose heart beats Hollywood.

The sport that produced Yogi Berra and the movie series that gave us Yoda combined Wednesday as a force for the ages – proving, to mash-up both sages: Over, it ain't, 'til it's over.

Hester is Director of News Products and Projects at the City University of New York Graduate School of Journalism. He is also the author of "Raising a Beatle Baby: How John, Paul, George and Ringo Helped us Come Together as a Family." Follow him on Twitter.

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